Researchers created mice with half-human brains by transplanting lab-grown human brain cells into genetically engineered rodents lacking a cortex and hippocampus. This approach allows scientists to study how brain disorders develop in human tissue and test potential treatments for conditions like schizophrenia, epilepsy, and dementia. The work raises ethical concerns about animal welfare and organoid consciousness that require ongoing oversight.
Safiruddin, a Bangladeshi man, sold his kidney in India for $2,850 in summer 2024 through organ traffickers, hoping to improve his family's life. However, brokers used forged documents to falsify a family relationship with the recipient, confiscated his passport and medical records, and left him with chronic pain and health deterioration. Baiguni village in Bangladesh's Kalai Upazila region has become known as the "village of one kidney" due to widespread organ trafficking, with one in 35 adults having sold a kidney, driven primarily by poverty.
AI industry leaders including Amodei, Altman, Musk, and Hassabis are calling for safety measures and slowdowns on large language models, though skeptics question their motives. Google DeepMind demonstrated AI agents exhibiting whistleblowing behavior to prevent cheating among peers. Scientists discovered that donated livers preserved on perfusion machines show molecular signs of becoming younger, potentially improving transplant outcomes.